Head chef, Christophe Saintagne

Breakfast!

As I’m typing this my husband and I are sitting side by side at our white £39 IKEA desk, with our favourite lamp lit dimly behind us – favourite because it has an energy-saving lightbulb that is kind to the monthly bill, and the fact that it takes about 3 gazillion years for it to get to maximum brightness so at least in the meantime it sets a moody light while we randomly slot a few bites of our swirly-pasta dinner between our online game/Sex & the City marathon (him/me). I’m also editing these photos, and realizing what a world apart it is – so much that it seems that the photos don’t entirely seem mine. These shots are from a night at the Plaza Athénée during the Hermes trip in Paris – might be familiar to some as the hotel that Carrie and her Russian ‘luvv-er‘ Aleksandr Petrovski stay at in the last two episode of the SATC series. The five-star Plaza Athénée defines hospitality, where the attention is so subtle yet omnipresent it almost feels natural to be catered to such level of service, it’s like they think ahead what might be comfortable before you even have to ask. (Although, they didn’t appear at the door at 3am with a pizza and marshmallows, but I suppose one can’t expect too much) Also, I found a total of five closets in the room, and while I had only brought a dress, another pair of shoes and pjs I separated them into the closets just so I had a reason to use them all. Dinner at the three-star Michelin restaurant by Alain Ducasse leaves you speechless, simply for the fact that you’re busy devouring seven courses that roll in seamlessly, and if you’re with good company consider yourself sitting for the rest of the night… in fact we departed the table well past midnight! The Dior institut is like an underground extension of the couture house from across the road on Avenue Montaigne, except, couture in Beauty. See what I mean by world apart? These rare hotel treats spoil me rotten (last one at Hotel de Crillon Paris courtesy of Dior), but thankfully I’m usually back home in my Dalston warehouse-conversion flat before I even have a chance to say ‘boy, I can get used to this’. And at least I’m left with beautiful places to share with you all.

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Isn’t it an odd feeling returning home?! We’ve also just returned from a weekend jaunt – though definitely nothing as wonderful as Paris! I’m quite awful at unpacking afterwards too, which definitely adds to the whole ‘coming back to reality’ notion!

What gorgeous shots. the color and the light is stunning. the food photos and the photo of Alain Ducasse are exceptional. I love his smile in that shot. (that’s him right?)
Gahh Plaza Athenee is so friggin stunning during the summer with all the red flowers overflowing from the balconies. That street alone is stunning. what a splendid experience~ super jelly.
hahaha aren’t those eco-friendly bulbs are the best. and woohoo SATC marathon~~~xoxo

I adore the fact that even with a post with such (intimidatingly but not in a bad way!) luxe photos, you’re still so down to earth and don’t make the rest of us feel like we need to sell our organs to live ‘the high life.’

Your photography always amazes me. I adore the look of greens around windows, (of the hotel, or restaurant?). I would love to stay at that hotel one day. Just for one night. I feel like watching Sex and the City now. I love the episode with ‘the Russian’.

M.

ayy_ayy

June 2, 2012 at 5:41 am

Wow, so beautiful.. i won’t go home if i were you.
Haha. (close my eyes about hotel payment after all)

The photos are exquisite. I couldn’t possibly dream of even staying a night at a hotel as beautiful and almost magically as that. I would have been pinching myself every second to see if it was all real. I hope you didn’t , otherwise you would have been left with a bruise.

omg these are sooo gorgeous i dont have the words to describe them.
and no wonder it’s so familiar, i was in the PLAZA too cos i was like i recognize the window knobs!
paris is soooo beautiful and it just got a lil’ prettier with u in them
the food stuff is sooooo attractive, im starving looking at them ;) someone please bring me french gormet cuisineeee!!!! im dyingggg hahahhaa

Congratulations Shini! I remember when I started blogging a year ago, you were one of the few bloggers that was very kind to email me back – I’ve always remembered that. You deserve all of your success and many wishes for plenty of Hermes and trips to the Plaza to come!

Paris again? not. fair. I wannna goo so bad! Your blog’s pictures always amaze me, they never fail to keep me wanting more and I sure know what you mean by “another world” it’s the furthest it can get from my world. I dunno which I prefer though, the room or the food? my entire mouth was filled with saliva as i scrolled through them, sooooo yum!! x

You know, I have been following your blog for years now and I am still stunned with your photos, how you dress up, almost everything about your blog. And only if I have tons of money I would love to invite you here, in the Philippines and have a little chit chat about blogs, personal life, maybe. I really do admire on how the way you blog, cause every time I read your posts I can’t help but think that you are my friend because you made me laugh. I really do hope.

-Louise

Imogen EIGHT

June 6, 2012 at 1:27 pm

Oh Shini I wish my Paris looked like this! Now that the Ritz has closed before I ever had a chance to look in it I must drop by here for a drink.

Ummmm. You are so right. The photos are a world apart from reality. As soon as I realized how monumental this post was (in terms of photos and text) I snuggled down under my blanket and got real comfy. This is so beautiful Shini. Your blog is really such a stunning extension of who you are. Even though daily life might not be this glam it’s incredible that you get to slip away on these little excursions.

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